Missoula students hear about importance of graduation – Graduation Matters

Nearly 1,000 high school freshmen took a seat in an uncommon venue Tuesday morning to hear what will become a common message for their next four years: Graduation matters.

"Going to high school is not a dress rehearsal. It’s the real deal. Whatever you do or don’t do in the next four years will follow you for the rest of your life." MCPS Superintendent Alex Apostle

Sometimes excited, sometimes fidgety and sometimes bored on the turf of Washington-Grizzly Stadium, every Missoula County Public Schools freshman from Sentinel to Seeley Lake high schools was bombarded with the message that Missoula cares that they not only earn their diploma, but that they do so with college in mind.

By JAMIE KELLY of the Missoulian

Full Story: http://missoulian.com/news/local/article_84ae1192-e96c-11e0-896a-001cc4c03286.html

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Rally promotes graduation –
High school students hear importance of diploma during event at UM

By Emily Zak

Tristan Matt just started high school in Missoula, but he’s already determined to graduate — something his two siblings never did.

"I’d be the first one," he said.

In a rally at Washington Grizzly Stadium on Tuesday, Gov. Brian Schweitzer and other officials spoke alongside local students to encourage Missoula freshmen — like Matt — to graduate.

More than 900 students from five county schools attended the rally organized by local schools and the University of Montana. The rally was a part of a program called Graduation Matters Missoula that began in 2010 to prevent high school students from dropping out.

Full Story: http://www.montanakaimin.com/news/rally-promotes-graduation-1.2616476#.ToMKL9R0iSo

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Speakers stress importance of high school at Graduation Matters Freshman Rally

by Russ Thomas (KPAX News)

Over 900 freshmen packed into Washington Grizzly Stadium to attend the Inaugural Graduation Matters Missoula Freshman Rally on Tuesday.

Missoula County School Superintendent Alex Apostle said a host of speakers, from administrators, to current and former students, to local and state leaders worked together to raise awareness of the importance of their high school experience.

"We’re bringing forth the community in total, the University, the city, the state, and basically communicating to our students the importance of graduating."

Full Story: http://www.kpax.com/news/speakers-stress-importance-of-high-school-at-graduation-matters-freshman-rally/